OOSS represents the interests of ophthalmic-driven ASCs in Washington, working with Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the ophthalmic and ambulatory surgery center community, and industry partners. Watch and read updates from Mike Romansky, JD, OOSS Washington Counsel.
Previous Washington Update Videos
Washington Update – 2026 Outlook
Mike Romansky, JD, OOSS Washington Counsel, outlines key challenges in 2026, defends fair ASC payment, prioritizes patient safety, and calls on members to support continued advocacy on critical legislative and regulatory issues.
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Washington Update Video – 2025 Review
In 2025, OOSS advocacy delivered critical Washington wins for members, protecting ASC payments, reducing regulatory burdens, opposing unsafe office cataract surgery reimbursement, and strengthening ophthalmic ASCs nationwide.
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Washington Update Video – CMS Final Payment Rule
Watch a video featuring Mike Romansky, JD, OOSS Washington Counsel, as he discusses the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issuing its final CY 2026 payment rate regulation for hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).
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Washington Update – CMS Letter
Watch our video featuring Mike Romansky, JD, OOSS Washington Counsel, as he speaks about the letter submitted to CMS regarding the reduction to cataract reimbursement rate.
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Washington Update – CMS Rule Changes
Watch a video featuring Mike Romansky, JD, OOSS Washington Counsel, as he asks members to submit comments to CMS regarding the proposed reduction to cataract reimbursement rate.
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Previous Washington Update Articles
CMS Issues Final 2023 ASC Payment Rule: Update of 3.8 Percent; Suspension of Reporting on Visual Function Measure
On November 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final CY 2023 payment rate regulation for hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). The rule will become effective on January 1, 2023 and includes a number of provisions supported by OOSS. ASC Payment Rate Updates As reported last year, CMS has agreed, for the period 2019-2023, to update ASC payment rates by the Hospital Market Basket rather than the…
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CMS Rejects Facility Reimbursement for Cataract and Other Ophthalmic Procedures in OBS
On November 1, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final Medicare Fee Schedule/Physician Payment rule. In a victory for our patients and our ASCs, CMS soundly rejected a proposal by promoters of office surgery to make facility payments for office cataract and other ophthalmic surgeries. CMS makes reference to concerns raised by OOSS and other ophthalmology and ASC organizations about office surgery regarding infection controls. anesthesia, equipment quality and maintenance, management…
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CMS ISSUES TWO SIGNIFICANT PROPOSED RULES: 2023 ASC PAYMENT UPDATE OF 2.7 PERCENT; REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON ESTABLISHING PAYMENT FOR OFFICE CATARACT SURGERY
On July 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed CY 2023 payment rate regulation for hospital outpatient departments (HOPD) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). The proposed regulation will soon be published in the Federal Register; OOSS and interested parties will have an opportunity to submit public comments until September 13, 2022. As discussed below, the rule ASC rule and payment rates incorporate a number of policies for which OOSS has…
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CMS Issues Guidance Regarding Compliance With Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued regulations and guidance regarding the requirement that health care staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. (The US Supreme Court recently affirmed CMS’ authority to mandate the vaccination of health care personnel.) This regulation and guidance document sets forth the requirements that ASCs must meet to ensure compliance with the rule and, importantly, the instructions that Medicare surveyors will adhere to in conducting Medicare surveys. It…
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Supreme Court Ruling on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
The Supreme Court has issued mixed rulings this afternoon regarding COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The two decisions are: The COVID-19 vaccine requirement for certain health care workers WILL go into effect. Private companies of 100+ employees WILL NOT be required to mandate employees vaccination. We will communicate as we learn more information regarding implementation and timeline. Michael Romansky JDOOSS Washington Council Should you have any questions, please contact OOSS Washington Counsel, Michael Romansky, JD at mromansky@OOSS.org.
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OOSS Responds to New CMS Regulations Concerning ASC Payments
The Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) has responded to new regulation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning hospital outpatient prospective payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment systems and quality reporting programs. OOSS strongly supports the agency’s decision in 2019 to change the ASC update factor from the Consumer Price Index – Urban (CPI-U) to the Hospital Market Basket (HMB). In this document OOSS recommends other payment policy changes that address some of the distortions in relative payments to ASCs and HOPDs.
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Biden Administration COVID-19 Six-Point Plan Will Likely Affect Ophthalmic ASCs
On March 28, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it had expanded its Accelerated and Advance Program to provide financial relief to a broad group of Medicare suppliers and providers. This program will increase cash flow to providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambulatory surgical centers ARE eligible for these payments.
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AETNA ANNOUNCES NEW POLICY: OPHTHALMOLOGISTS MUST GET PRE-APPROVAL ON ALL CATARACT SURGERIES, effective July 1, 2021.
Aetna recently announced that starting on July 1, 2021, it will require preapproval for all cataract surgeries in ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient departments. AAO, ASCRS, and OOSS have been representing the concerns of ophthalmologists explaining that preapproval would cause delays and disruption in sight-saving patient care. It would also place unnecessary administrative burdens on ophthalmic practices and ambulatory surgery centers. Aetna, which has a large share of Medicare Advantage business, has never required precertification for cataract surgery. …